Lawn mower including an operator controlled discharge baffle

Abstract

A lawn mower includes a discharge baffle assembly coupled to a cutting deck pan adjacent an opening. The discharge baffle assembly includes a discharge chute extending outwardly from the cutting deck pan. The discharge baffle assembly also includes a baffle plate movable within a gap between the discharge chute and the cutting deck pan. The baffle plate is movable between a first position, in which the baffle plate substantially covers the opening of the cutting deck pan, and a second position, in which the baffle plate is spaced apart from the opening of the cutting deck pan. The discharge baffle assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the baffle plate. The actuator is operable to move the baffle plate relative to the opening of the cutting deck pan.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lawn mower comprising:
 a frame; 
 a prime mover supported by the frame; 
 a plurality of ground engagement elements moveably coupled to the frame and driven by the prime mover to propel the lawn mower; 
 a cutting deck pan supported by the frame, the cutting deck pan defining an opening; 
 a cutting blade mounted below the cutting deck pan to cut vegetation under the cutting deck pan; and 
 a discharge baffle assembly coupled to the cutting deck pan adjacent the opening, the discharge baffle assembly including
 a discharge chute extending outwardly from the cutting deck pan, the discharge chute defining a passageway configured to direct cut vegetation out from the opening of the cutting deck pan, 
 a baffle plate movable within a gap between the discharge chute and the cutting deck pan, the baffle plate being movable between a first position, in which the baffle plate substantially covers the opening of the cutting deck pan, and a second position, in which the baffle plate is spaced apart from the opening of the cutting deck pan, and 
 an actuator coupled to the baffle plate, the actuator operable to move the baffle plate relative to the opening of the cutting deck pan;
 wherein the baffle plate includes a first section positioned on top of the cutting deck pan and a second section positioned within the gap, wherein the first section has a first edge pivotably coupled with respect to the cutting deck pan and a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein the second section has an edge pivotably coupled to the second edge of the first section, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the baffle plate adjacent the second edge of the first section and the edge of the second section to move the second section within the gap. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate translates in a substantially vertical direction between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       3. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge baffle assembly further includes a spring coupled to the baffle plate, the spring biasing the baffle plate towards the cutting deck pan. 
     
     
       4. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate is retained in either the first position or the second position until an external force acts on the actuator. 
     
     
       5. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , further comprising an operator's seat supported by the frame, the actuator extending from the baffle plate towards the operator's seat, wherein the actuator includes an elongated rod extending from the baffle plate towards the operator's seat. 
     
     
       6. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes an electric motor assembly and a link coupled to the baffle plate, the link configured to be driven by the electric motor assembly. 
     
     
       7. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge baffle assembly further includes a discharge frame, wherein the discharge frame is supported on an upper surface of the cutting deck pan, and wherein the baffle plate and the discharge chute are movably coupled to the discharge frame. 
     
     
       8. The lawn mower of  claim 7 , wherein the cutting deck pan defines a mounting aperture adjacent the opening, wherein the discharge frame includes a mounting post, and wherein the mounting post is received in the mounting aperture to couple the discharge baffle assembly to the cutting deck pan. 
     
     
       9. The lawn mower of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge chute is movable relative to the cutting deck pan between a first chute position, in which the discharge chute extends in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the cutting deck pan, and a second chute position, in which the discharge chute extends in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the cutting deck pan. 
     
     
       10. The lawn mower of  claim 9 , wherein the discharge chute is pivotable relative to the cutting deck pan between the first chute position and the second chute position. 
     
     
       11. The lawn mower of  claim 9 , wherein the discharge chute and the baffle plate are movable relative to the cutting deck pan independently of one another. 
     
     
       12. A discharge baffle assembly for use with a lawn mower, the lawn mower including a frame, a prime mover supported by the frame, a plurality of ground engagement elements moveably coupled to the frame and driven by the prime mover to propel the lawn mower, a cutting deck pan supported by the frame, the cutting deck pan defining an opening, and a cutting blade mounted below the cutting deck pan to cut vegetation under the cutting deck pan, the discharge baffle assembly comprising:
 a discharge frame configured to be coupled to the cutting deck pan adjacent the opening; 
 a discharge chute supported by the discharge frame and configured to extend outwardly from the cutting deck pan, the discharge chute defining a passageway configured to direct cut vegetation out from the opening of the cutting deck pan; 
 a baffle plate supported by the discharge frame and movable within a gap between the discharge chute and the discharge frame, the baffle plate being movable between a first position, in which the baffle plate is configured to substantially cover the opening of the cutting deck pan, and a second position, in which the baffle plate is configured to be spaced apart from the opening of the cutting deck pan; and 
 an actuator coupled to the baffle plate, the actuator operable to move the baffle plate relative to the opening of the cutting deck pan;
 wherein the baffle plate includes a first section positioned on top of the discharge frame and a second section configured to be positioned within the gap, wherein the first section has a first edge pivotably coupled to the discharge frame and a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein the second section has an edge pivotably coupled to the second edge of the first section, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the baffle plate adjacent the second edge of the first section and the edge of the second section to move the second section within the gap. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a spring coupled between the first section and the second section, the spring biasing the second section towards the discharge frame. 
     
     
       14. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the discharge chute is movable relative to the discharge frame between a first chute position, in which the discharge chute is configured to extend in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the cutting deck pan, and a second chute position, in which the discharge chute is configured to extend in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the cutting deck pan. 
     
     
       15. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the baffle plate and the discharge chute are movable relative to the discharge frame independently of one another. 
     
     
       16. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the baffle plate is retained in either the first position or the second position until an external force acts on the actuator. 
     
     
       17. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes an elongated rod extending generally upward from the baffle plate. 
     
     
       18. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of mounting brackets coupled to the discharge frame, wherein the plurality of mounting brackets is coupled to the baffle plate and the discharge chute to allow relative rotation between the baffle plate and the discharge chute relative to the discharge frame. 
     
     
       19. The discharge baffle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes an electric motor assembly and a link coupled to the baffle plate, the link configured to be driven by the electric motor assembly.